Premium
Flow cytometric analysis of BCL‐2 can distinguish small numbers of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia cells from B‐cell precursors
Author(s) -
Hartung Leah,
Bahler David W.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2004.05155.x
Subject(s) - flow cytometry , acute lymphocytic leukemia , flow (mathematics) , lymphoblastic leukemia , medicine , cancer research , chemistry , pathology , immunology , leukemia , physics , mechanics
Summary Flow cytometric identification of small numbers of precursor B‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B‐ALL) cells in post‐treatment marrow specimens could benefit from the identification of additional, easily detectable markers that could be used in most cases. In this study, we evaluate whether bcl‐2 expression quantified by four‐colour flow cytometry can be effectively used to discriminate precursor B‐ALL blasts from normal B‐cell precursors (haematogones) and function as a leukaemia‐specific marker. Levels of bcl‐2 in the 22 precursor B‐ALL cases studied were found to be significantly higher (over sixfold higher on average) than those present in haematogone populations from 22 control marrow specimens. Higher relative levels of bcl‐2 expression in the B‐ALL cases were maintained with respect to both immature CD34 + and more mature CD34 − haematogone subsets, and appeared stable. Dilutional studies indicated that multiparameter flow cytometry analysis using bcl‐2 could identify precursor B‐ALL blasts representing as few as 1% of CD19 + cells or 0·01% of total leucocytes in bone marrow specimens containing substantial numbers of haematogones. This study suggests that bcl‐2 may be an important marker for flow cytometric detection and quantification of small numbers of residual precursor B‐ALL cells in bone marrow specimens.